Pamianthe peruviana, also known as the giant Peruvian daffodil, is a species of epiphytic plant native to seasonally dry areas of Peru and Bolivia, but is believed to be extinct in the wild.

Description

Vegetative characteristics Pamianthe peruviana is a perennial, bulbous plant with 5–7 linear leavesUnited States. Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, of Plant Exploration, A. E. D., Introduction, of Plant Introduction, U. S. A. R. S. S., Branch, U. S. A. R. S. N. C. R., (u.s.), N. G. R. L., & Services, U. S. A. R. (1939). Plant Inventory. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=aVFQbE_6LToC with a prominent mid vein, which form an up to 30 cm long pseudo-stem. Each leaf may reach lengths of up to 50 cm and widths of 2–4 cm. The bulbs are stoloniferous.Knecht, U. (2012b, October 4). Pamianthe peruviana asexual reproduction. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/morabeza79/8293571468/in/album-72157629751941598/ Generative characteristics

The bisexual, radially symmetrical flowers are intensely fragrant. They resemble the flowers of Pancratium.Cheli, M. (2018c, December 16). Pamianthe. L’eden Di Fiori E Piante. Retrieved April 16, 2023, from https://www.edendeifiori.it/5364/pamianthe.php They are produced in groups of 2-4 flowers, which have a 12–25 cm long perianth tube with three nectariferous channels. These features could suggest moth pollination. The pedicel is 1.5–3 cm long. With 8 cm of length, the outer tepals are slightly longer than the 7 cm long staminal cup. The incurved stamens with dorsifixed anthers are inserted in deep notches of the staminal cup, or corona. The flowers are self compatible and the fruit takes 12–15 months to mature. Rapid germination occurs under humid conditions at 16-21 °C. Seedlings reach maturity within four to five years.SUBTROPICALS (Vol. 2., No. 3). (2003). p. 34. [Pdf]. Subtropicals Society. https://www.rnzih.org.nz/Subtropicals_magazine/SUBTROPICALS-Vol2-No3.pdf Cytology The diploid chromosome count of Pamianthe is 2n = 46.

Taxonomy It was described by Otto Stapf in 1933. The type specimen was cultivated by Albert Pam in the United Kingdom.Type of Pamianthe peruviana Stapf [family AMARYLLIDACEAE]. (n.d.). JSTOR Global Plants. Retrieved April 16, 2023, from https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.k000322364 Pamianthe peruviana is the type species of the genus Pamianthe. It was either first discovered in 1926 on a bulb collecting expedition in Peru or bulbs were received from Peru in 1928.Brickell, C., Sharman, F. (1986). The Vanishing Garden: A Conservation Guide to Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Murray. Pam, who introduced the species to horticulture, was a friend of the horticulturalist Edward Augustus Bowles (1865 - 1954),Mathew, B., Mathew, M., & Pacific Bulb Society. (1996). The Bulb Newsletter Vol. 16 (version 2016). p. 11. [Pdf]. https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/TBN/BN.php?v=16 to whom he gave a Pamianthe peruviana specimen in the 1930s. He also donated Pamianthe peruviana to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 1937. Despite being the same taxon, it has been reported that Pamianthe cardenasii were a bulbous geophyte, and Pamianthe peruviana were an epiphyte.Zotz, G., Schickenberg, N., & Albach, D. (2017). "The velamen radicum is common among terrestrial monocotyledons." Annals of Botany, 120(5), 625-632. Some degree of possible hybridization was identified between Pamianthe peruviana and Pamianthe ecollis. According to a molecular clock analysis, both species shared a common ancestor 18.22 million years ago. This means Pamianthe peruviana diverged in the early Miocene. Etymology The generic name Pamianthe refers to Major Albert Pam. The specific epithet peruviana references this species origin in Peru.

Distribution and habitat It was found along streams in the warm to temperate northern region of Peru at elevations of 1800 m above sea level.Field Museum of Natural History. (1936). Publication. Field Museum of Natural History Botanical series. (Vol. v.13:pt.1:no.1 (1936)) "p. 673." Chicago, Field Museum of Natural History, 1912-1947.

Ecology Pamianthe is presumed to be moth pollinated based on their floral morphology.Meerow, A. W. (2010). "Convergence or reticulation? Mosaic evolution in the canalized American Amaryllidaceae." Diversity, phylogeny and evolution in the monocotyledons. Aarhus University Press, Aarhus, 145-168. Specifically sphingid moths come into question.

Conservation It is presumed to be extinct in the wild.Kew’s iconic Orchid festival returns for 2025 celebrating the spectacular flora and fauna of Peru. (2024, September 12). Kew. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://www.kew.org/about-us/press-media/orchids-2025-announcementHolmes, B. (n.d.-b). Pamianthe peruviana Stapf. The Recently Extinct Plants and Animals Database. Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://recentlyextinctspecies.com/asparagales-aloes-asparagus-garlic-irises-onions-etc/pamianthe-peruvianaKnecht, U. (2012, March 17). Pamianthe peruviana. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/morabeza79/6846004820Pamianthe peruviana - “Peruvian Daffodil.” (n.d.). Strange Wonderful Things | Rare and Exotic Plants. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://strangewonderfulthings.com/437.htm It is not known when it was last recorded.Holmes, B. (n.d.-a). Asparagales - The Recently Extinct Plants and Animals Database. Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://recentlyextinctspecies.com/databases/asparagales According to the Cambridge Botanic Garden the conservation status has not been evaluated.Pamianthe peruviana. (n.d.). Cambridge Botanic Garden. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/collections/collectionsportal/plant-details?accession_number=20130568&add=true Under its synonym Pamianthe cardenasii Traub it has also been classified as not evaluated by the national herbarium of Bolivia in 2005.Meneses, R. I., & Beck, S. (2005). Especies amenazadas de la flora de Bolivia. Herbario Nacional de Bolivia, La Paz. p. 29.

Ex-situ conservation is ensured in several living collections, such as the living collection of the Gothenburg Botanical Garden, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Living Plant Collections,Pamianthe peruviana Stapf in GBIF Secretariat (2022). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2023-04-15. the Oxford Botanic Garden,Thorogood, C. (2023a, February 22). Giant Peruvian daffodils (Pamianthe peruviana) trumpeting in the conservatory at Oxford Botanic Garden. Twitter. Retrieved April 16, 2023, from https://twitter.com/thorogoodchris1/status/1628313301632397312 as well as private collections.

Cultivation Despite it being very rare in cultivation,Knecht, J. U. (2012, May 17). Pamianthe peruviana: amazing epiphytic bulb!  [Online forum post]. Orchids Forum. Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://www.orchidsforum.com/threads/pamianthe-peruviana-amazing-epiphytic-bulb.10240/ it can be easily cultivated as a houseplant if kept in a well aerated substrate,Pamianthe. (2021, February 16). Pacific Bulb Society. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Pamianthe because it is intolerant of waterlogged conditions, which rapidly induce root rot. Ideally, it should be cultivated under moderately bright, humid conditions at temperatures of 18-30 °C. Seeds can be sown all year round. The optimal time is March–August. The remaining months are less optimal. The germination temperature should not be below 20 °C.Aussaatmonate und minimale Aussaattemperaturen. (2023, January 30). Rareplants.eu. Retrieved April 14, 2023, from http://www.rareplants.es/shop/uploads/files_versions/Tabelle_Aussaatmonate_www.rareplants.de.pdf Pamianthe makes a good greenhouse or container display.Laurent, A. (2016). "I. AMARYLLIDACEAE / AMARYLLIS FAMILY." In Botanical Art from the Golden Age of Scientific Discovery (pp. 10-15). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. https://doi.org/10.7208/9780226321103-002 It is also suitable as a long-lasting cut flower.

References